South African Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa
The Tallest Animal on Earth
Habitat
Savanna, woodland, and open plains with scattered trees
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
25–30 years
Weight
800–1,200 kg
Standing up to 5.8 metres tall, the giraffe is the world's tallest living animal. Their impossibly long necks contain only 7 vertebrae — the same number as humans — but each one can be over 25 cm long. Giraffes are gentle browsers, using their 45 cm prehensile tongues to strip leaves from acacia trees.
South Africa's giraffe populations are healthy in most reserves, with Kruger hosting an estimated 5,000 individuals. Pilanesberg and the Waterberg reserves also offer excellent giraffe sightings, often at very close range.
Habitat & Diet
Habitat
Savanna, woodland, and open plains with scattered trees
Diet
Herbivore — acacia and combretum leaves, twigs, and bark
Lifespan
25–30 years
Weight
800–1,200 kg (males), 550–800 kg (females)
Best Viewing Locations
- Kruger National Park
- Pilanesberg
- Sabi Sands
- Waterberg
Fascinating Facts
A giraffe's heart weighs 11 kg and is 60 cm long to pump blood up to its brain
They only need 30 minutes of sleep per day, taken in short 5-minute naps
No two giraffes have the same spot pattern
Baby giraffes fall 1.5 metres to the ground when born and can stand within 30 minutes
